tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19392713088703336692019-09-13T04:12:27.099-07:00Karen WoodwardA blog about writingKaren Woodwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.comBlogger1362125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-19947079759962193552019-09-08T09:55:00.000-07:002019-09-08T09:55:16.103-07:00Adverbs: They Can Be Your Friend
In elementary school, I was given a thesaurus and told, “Go nuts!” Let's just say that my 4th grade teacher never met an adverb he didn’t like.
To make a long story short, my 4th grade teacher was all kinds of wrong.
Use Adverbs Sparingly
Though grammar has never been my strong suit, it helps me understand the truth behind the admonition against purple prose. (Stay with me, I Karen Woodwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-46297689876423347852017-09-11T08:56:00.001-07:002017-09-11T08:56:30.037-07:00Writing Prompt: What if scientists could tell what a person looked like from a sample of their blood?
I read about advances in science and technology and think, ‘This would make an interesting prompt.’ For example ...
Although the technology doesn’t exist yet scientists agree that in a few years we’ll be able to tell what a person looks like from a sample of their DNA. [1]
The writing challenge: Write a piece of flash fiction—fewer than 500 words—that involves the use of this technology. Karen Woodwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-16308467274325914502017-09-09T19:31:00.001-07:002017-09-09T20:09:01.655-07:00How Hobbies Can Improve Your Writing
Do you have a hobby? Something you don’t get paid for but do anyway? I do! I never used to, it was writing, writing, writing all day long. Then I let my writing schedule slip for three weeks and ran right into a wall of writer’s block.
To help me get back into the swing of things I gave the protagonist of my WIP an interest in two of my hobbies: baking and fermenting. I do things like bake Karen Woodwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-16743341599307702402017-09-04T15:54:00.002-07:002017-09-04T15:54:34.697-07:0012 Tips on How to Create a New Habit
For me, the key to creating a new habit—or re-establishing an old one—is Seinfeld’s method. This involves putting a calendar on the wall, preferably one that shows a whole year on one page, and drawing an “X” through every day you practice the habit.
After a few days you’ll have a chain of Xs.
Perhaps you’re different but for me there’s something satisfying about seeing the chain grow every Karen Woodwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-43080744419775379532017-08-18T20:39:00.001-07:002017-08-18T20:39:06.041-07:00How to Write Again after a Break
You may have noticed I took an unscheduled leave of absence. Sorry about that. I was ticking something off my bucket list: being involved with the making of a movie!
And by “being involved” I mean that I wanted to do something that would give me a fly-on-the-wall perspective, something that would allow me to watch and think about what was going on. Being an extra (or ‘background actor’) gaveKaren Woodwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-72344638758545557802017-07-18T11:11:00.001-07:002017-07-18T11:12:13.405-07:00Update: Writing and ActingSorry! I know I’ve disappeared for the past month. My deepest apologies.
I’m fine, nothing dire has happened. Just the opposite! I’ve been checking something off my bucket list: being an extra. Or, as we say in the biz, “background actor.”
It’s been amazingly, fantastically fun! There was a lot of filming where I used to live and I always wanted to peek behind the metaphorical curtain and see Karen Woodwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-56111576528662570552017-07-02T19:49:00.000-07:002017-07-03T10:06:45.012-07:00Writer's Block and How to Beat it
I've been trying to write this blog post all day but the words wouldn't come.
I know all writers have experienced writer's block and know what a horrible feeling it is.
I know some folks deny there's any such thing as writer's block, that professional writers can't afford it. And they DO have a point.
But sometimes the words hover just out of reach. They peek around the corner then Karen Woodwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-10903759010905764452017-06-21T08:16:00.000-07:002017-06-21T08:20:05.874-07:00Creating Effective Transitions
Transitions are tricky. In a scene you write in the moment, recording your character's thoughts, feelings, actions and—most important of all—desires. In those times when you're immersed in the scene writing can seem effortless.
Transitions, not so much.
I'm not saying it's unclear what I need to do in a transition. At least, speaking generally. I know where I need to start (the Karen Woodwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-63918389263060453702017-06-19T08:51:00.000-07:002017-06-19T09:21:58.654-07:00Writing Exercise: Make Your Own Critter!
The research vessel Investigator recently explored a 4 km deep abyss along the eastern edge of Australia and found some bizarre critters! A fish without a face, a blog fish, and (this is my favorite) a sponge with GLASS tips. Wow. Now make your own!
What does the head look like? Body? Does it walk? Fly? Swim? Does it have scales? Feathers?
What exceptional quality does it have? Can it Karen Woodwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-70918143003606129162017-06-17T14:50:00.000-07:002017-06-17T15:34:57.742-07:00The Mummy (2017): A Review: Two Thumbs Up (Kinda)
The Mummy is cinematic cotton candy, sweetness and fluff that tastes good in the moment but doesn’t satisfy. That said, it’s only in comparison with the 1999 version that the movie falls flat. It's not a GREAT action movie—for that I'd recommend Edge of Tomorrow—but it was entertaining. Overall, I give The Mummy thumbs up.
Overview
It’s going to date me, but I saw the 1999 version ofKaren Woodwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-84013537535961845682017-06-12T09:40:00.000-07:002017-06-12T09:57:59.255-07:00Character Creation: Kinds of Characters
Have you ever had the experience of a character coming to life? And, no, I’m not talking about an alienesque situation where something green and slimy explodes from your chest! Though sometimes creating a character can FEEL that painful.
Kinds of Characters
Do characters have an existence independent of the writer? Should they dictate their own actions? OR are characters mere figmentsKaren Woodwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-35309290008154602302017-06-08T16:01:00.003-07:002017-06-12T19:02:30.069-07:00Outlining a Murder Mystery
This article is part three of How to Write a Book (Part One, Part Two). Today I take the theory I laid out in my previous two posts (especially the last) and create an outline.
5a. Murder in Meadowmead: Example Outline
Murder in Meadowmead is a story I’ve been writing through a series of blog posts. Why? To give others—especially beginning writers who have never written a book—an idea of Karen Woodwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-78482766158793303002017-06-06T20:47:00.002-07:002017-06-06T20:52:26.638-07:00How to Write a Book, Part Two
This article is part two of How to Write a Book.
2. Figure out how many words you can write a day.
As you write your Zero Draft you’ll also get an idea for how many words you can write in a day. You want to shoot for a SUSTAINABLE amount. Writing a book isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon.
NaNoWriMo is wonderful practice for writing everyday. It doesn’t matter if you can write 50,000 Karen Woodwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-60113123285095404882017-06-02T15:02:00.001-07:002017-06-05T17:01:01.175-07:00How to Write a Book
The question I’ve been asked more than any other is, “How can I write a book?” Here's my attempt at an answer. Please keep in mind this is just ONE WAY to write a book not the only way.
How to write a book
Neil Gaiman once said—and I’m paraphrasing—that each time he writes a book it’s a different process. I think there’s a lot of truth to that. Each book is different, each book presents Karen Woodwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-42527910601495779192017-05-30T19:59:00.005-07:002017-05-31T08:46:57.287-07:00When Life Strikes: Writing through the Unexpected
Today I want to talk about what to do when life derails your plans.
Life derailed me yesterday! I planned to work on my book in the morning, visit my dentist in the early afternoon, write a blog post and publish it before dinner.
Well. At least I had a productive morning before everything fell apart. It turns out my dentist moved his office across town without telling me! Good to know.
SOKaren Woodwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-55064828075054259772017-05-26T14:20:00.000-07:002017-06-02T18:10:08.869-07:00Writing a Murder Mystery: The First Victim
The first murder victim is unique.
Of course talking about a first victim assumes there will be more than one murder victim. True. But, these days, most murder mysteries DO include more than one victim.
And, honestly, I think it’s easier to structure a murder mystery that has more than one murder. I’ll talk more about story structure later on in this series. (By the way, this post is part Karen Woodwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-24125941710833665222017-05-24T09:40:00.004-07:002017-06-02T18:09:41.670-07:00The M.I.C.E. Quotient and Mystery Stories
In a murder mystery the detective is usually the protagonist, but not always. For example, in the TV show Lucifer the detective’s sidekick is the main character. Today I want to talk about this delightful inversion of formula with reference to the M.I.C.E. Quotient.
Note: I've included this material in my book: How to Write a Murderously Good Mystery: The Major Characters.
Lucifer Karen Woodwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-84639459197697873602017-05-20T17:03:00.001-07:002017-06-02T18:09:14.859-07:00 Differences between Murder Mystery and Fantasy Stories
As I mentioned in my last post, I’ve recently read Deborah Chester’s excellent book, “The Fantasy Fiction Formula.”
Inevitably, I started to think about the differences between the fantasy genre and the murder mystery genre.
Note: I've included this material in my book: How to Write a Murderously Good Mystery: The Major Characters.
5 Differences between a Fantasy and a Murder Mystery
1Karen Woodwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-39412598660827409032017-05-17T22:51:00.002-07:002017-06-02T18:08:50.516-07:00Let's Create a Sidekick!
Let’s create a sidekick!
Over the past few posts I’ve talked quite a lot about theory, now it’s time for the rubber to hit the road and CREATE a sidekick (or at least begin the process).
(Index for this series: How to Write a Murder Mystery)
Please keep in mind that this is an experiment! I’m putting together this evolving story outline as I go (and please feel free to make suggestionsKaren Woodwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-75228318091560153952017-05-10T18:43:00.002-07:002017-05-10T18:46:12.398-07:00How to Build an Interesting Character: 10 Questions
How do we create interesting characters, characters with depth and conflicting desires? Today I talk about 10 ways writers can communicate the essence of a character to readers.
I’ve gone over this before (see: Tags & Traits: Characterization And Building Empathy and 7 Tips for Creating an Interesting Detective) but what I want to talk about today is a bit different: 10 ways writers can Karen Woodwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-7262495050801161842017-05-08T21:31:00.000-07:002017-06-02T18:07:45.539-07:00The Detective’s Sidekick: 3 Character Types
This post on how to create a sidekick for your detective is part of my How to Write a Murderously Good Mystery series.
Today I’m going to talk about three character types: The Brawn, the Heart, and the Fish out of Water. Let’s go over each of these.
Note: I've included this material in my book: How to Write a Murderously Good Mystery: The Major Characters.
3 Character Types for the Karen Woodwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-86325250632300268812017-05-06T17:46:00.000-07:002017-06-02T18:07:21.502-07:00Make Your Sidekick Unique and Memorable: 5 Tags and Traits of the Sidekick
Yesterday we looked at the function of the sidekick in a murder mystery. Today I want to look at the sidekicks tag’s and traits, characteristics that go to the core of who the sidekick is, that are especially revealing of their personality, their fictional soul.
Note: I've included this material in my book: How to Write a Murderously Good Mystery: The Major Characters.
1. Achilles Karen Woodwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-76545618975241973332017-05-05T19:30:00.000-07:002017-06-02T18:06:37.533-07:006 Ways a Sidekick Can Enhance Your Story
Today I continue my series: How to Write a Murder Mystery.
Last time we started looking at how to create the perfect sidekick for your detective. Today I’m going to expand on that material.
Yesterday we saw that one of the sidekick's functions is to be a foil for the detective. In what follows I look at specific aspects of this and explore how to tailor him to your detective.
Note: Karen Woodwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-85008093786975964962017-05-04T11:47:00.003-07:002017-06-02T18:06:12.312-07:00Tips for Creating the Perfect Sidekick for Your Detective, Part 1 of 2
Let’s talk about the detective’s sidekick!
In this post I’m going to begin talking about the general and specific functions of the sidekick in a murder mystery.
After we’re done with the theory I’ll step through the creation of a sidekick for the murder mystery we’ve been outlining: Murder in Meadowmead.
Let’s get started!
(This post is part of a series: Writing a Murder Mystery.)
Note:Karen Woodwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-67487005405413076702017-05-02T19:28:00.001-07:002017-06-02T18:05:38.362-07:00Let’s Make a Detective, Part 2 of 2
Let’s continue creating a detective!
This post is part of my Let’s Write a Murder Mystery! series. In my last post I began creating a detective. I:
Started thinking about what the detective’s name will be.
Chose two or three detectives I can use as my own personal examples of what an awesome detective is.
Glimpsed the detective for the first time.
Looked at how the detective dresses,Karen Woodwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.com0